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My Teenager

The adolescent years from 12 to 18, are the child’s journey to adulthood. They are no longer a child, but not yet an adult.

The rapid physical growth of adolescence also echoes the rapid physical growth of the first six years of your child’s life, but this time physical growth is accompanied by the intense hormonal activity that ushers in sexual maturity. The energy the adolescence needs during periods of rapid physical growth can sometimes diminish the energy the adolescent has available to concentrate on their academic work.

Similarly, to early childhood, the adolescent brain undergoes significant re-organisation, as the child transforms into an adult. At the onset of adolescence young people are ready to take further steps away from their families and towards adult independence in society. They also become idealistic and peer-oriented. They can find it difficult to concentrate on structured academic learning but love to interact conversationally and collaboratively with other adolescents in the context of projects and issues that are important to them; they feel supported and nurtured in a cooperative community of peers.

During this odyssey, young people become humanistic explorers seeking to understand their place in society, and to contribute to society. Personal dignity, social justice and belonging are key drivers. The adolescents are asking of themselves, who am I and who am I in this world?

Your teenager may have a huge capacity for creative expression, and their style of learning may become more practical and experiential, an approach they use to explore previously introduced concepts in more depth and in real-life contexts.